Interview & Giveaway: Shandy Kurth

The Top Shelf: The Top Shelf would like to welcome Shandy Kurth to the blog! Shandy, I am very happy to have you here as you promote On the Right Side of a Line. I finished it in one day and I suggest everyone check it out, it’s one of those books I just could not put down. Finished it at two in the morning!

Shandy: I’m so glad you enjoyed the read! Thank you for having me!

The Top Shelf: How did the idea for this book come about?

Shandy: A song by Hinder inspired this one called, Waking Up the Devil. Although, the scene that was sparked by the song never made it to paper! Valen’s character started there. He’s really a two sided coin. The rough thumb breaker side with the crazy temper, and the moral one that wants to protect a vulnerable girl

The Top Shelf: This book had a very real feel to it. Is any of it based in personal experience or was it all research? If research was involved, what sort of places did you look at?

Shandy: I’ve had that question a lot haha. The answer is no, it’s not based on personal experience although there is a lot of gang affiliation in the city that I live. I have a close friend who is a paramedic, so I have gathered info from there, documentaries, observation, reading and movies.

The Top Shelf: Did you have the storyline all planned out when you sat down to write or did it take a life of its own beyond the initial paragraph?

Shandy: I’m not a planner. The novel I mapped out before writing is Isolation, but it’s a sequel and I am planning a sequel to it so it had to have a little more structure. I’m a roll with the flow kind of writer. I watch it play in my head and write it down! Sometimes I’ll write scenes (often the ending scenes) and then connect them to the story but, I roll with the punches sort of speak.

The Top Shelf: You have some very opinionated characters and some of them really feel like they have a life of their own. Were there moments where things didn’t go the way you planned them in your head?

Shandy: Things always turn out that way You have ideas, like the scene that started my mind rolling on this one, that don’t make it to paper. I just roll with it. I can imagine those that plan and outline probably run into that a lot more than us free flowers.

The Top Shelf: What led you to writing? What are your influences?

Shandy: Influences, for writing? Everything I read inspires me to write whether it’s good or bad.

The Top Shelf: You write young adult fiction. Do you see yourself branching out in the future or just sticking to one genre?

Shandy: I enjoy reading the Young Adult genre so it makes since that I also like to write it. Will I branch out? Hope some day!

The Top Shelf: What advice would you give a writer just starting out? Maybe something that you wish you would have known before you started?

Shandy: Don’t assume you’re awesome and don’t assume you suck. Write everyday, don’t wait to see what the experts say is right, but while you’re writing find out how to do it better no matter what level you are at.

The Top Shelf: Once again I would like to thank Shandy for stopping by! You’re welcome here any time!

Shandy: Thank you so much for having me! Read on!

Synopsis: **Contains adult language

I thought I knew where I was going. I had my life all planned out. It had been mapped for me since I was ten. When I turned fourteen, I became a Raven, just like my big brother. It was a lifer thing, not something you could walk away from. I moved up the ranks quickly, just like everyone thought I would. Now at eighteen, I was close to the top. I could break thumbs with the best of ’em and and bust heads with the best. I was a force to be reckoned with. Yeah. I had it all together before that one event tore my life apart, and that one girl got me all confused.

Excerpt:

“You’re gonna pick up some gated brothers out here sitting around half naked.”
“I am not half naked!” she barked, finally looking up at me, her face flushing red whether it was from the heat or embarrassment, I wasn’t sure.
“You might as well be. What’s a hoity-toity like you doing on Columbus?” I bent down, checking out her bike that was leaned up against the railing, the chain still hanging off it.
“You’re a real gentlemen, you know that?” she said slapping her book shut and standing with her arms crossed.
“I never claimed to be.” I laughed as she pulled her shorts down. It didn’t help. I snapped her bike chain back into place without too much effort and stood up, wiping the grease on my jeans.
“What’s ‘gated’ mean?” she said after a minute of being a silent.
I laughed again, “Just let out…like the pen, just released.”
She bit her lip and turned to go back inside.
“Wowa! What the hell we got here?” It was JB, a Raven of the low life persuasion which is saying something since none of us were prizes. “Where’d you pick up this classy broad?” he snarled, looking her up and down.
The girl’s eyes turned huge as she crossed her arms over her chest again. It still didn’t help. I shook my head. I had way too much going on to worry about her, but something wasn’t letting me go.
“She’s my new girl. I bought her up town. What do ya think?”
“ I think you better share,” he leered, taking a step toward her, practically drooling.
“Oh, you know I never share. Shall we go?” I asked her, putting my hand out, tempting her to grab for it.
She hesitated, still leery of me as she had the right to be. She must have decided she didn’t want to be left alone in a house with JB waiting out front, waiting to catch her alone. She reached for me.

About the Author

Shandy was born and raised in Wichita Kansas. She loves writing, reading, her school kiddos, her hubby, and her babies…both four and two legged. She likes to listen to Rock and Roll… old or new and reads just about anything YA, although she’s still working on getting into the paranormal. When Shandy is writing she can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next! If you don’t like her characters don’t blame her, blame them! They have a mind of their own!

Giveaway!!!!

Shandy has graciously given us one EBOOK copy of On the Right Side of a Line to give away to a lucky reader! To enter, just leave a comment. I’ll pick a winner via Random.org on Thursday December 19th! Good luck!

Misty graduated from Capital University in 2005 with a degree in English Literature. She is an avid reader and is the owner of The Top Shelf